#tech gadgets

Herbst Lazer Bell conceptual prototypes 1998-1999

Mark Dziersk of Herbst Lazar Bell annually challenged his design team to take on conceptual projects aimed at making technology feel more approachable. In 1998, they developed Zuzu’s Petals, a sculptural personal digital assistant inspired by the regenerating flower in It’s a Wonderful Life. Zuzu’s central stalk functioned as a docking station for modular “petals,” each serving as a digital tool—camera, voice recorder, satellite access, solar charger—designed for remote use and reattachment. Memory modules at its base, referred to as “digital dirt,” stored data and added a playful edge to its functionality.

The following year, they introduced Gooru to support children aged seven to eleven. It included the “Gooball,” an interactive device, and a backpack with a flexible screen that provided memory, power, and storage. Each Gooru carried a unique electronic personality, offering educational support, personal guidance, and entertainment. Its soft geometric form balanced technical complexity, creating a friendly interface. Though designed for children, Gooru hinted at a reimagined laptop paradigm, emphasizing a more human-centered approach to technology.

1-2. Zuzu’s Petals

prototype for personal digital

assistant,1998, plastid (ABS), thermoplastic, elastomer (Santoprene)

metal accents, and translucent polypropylene

PDAscreen: woven hologrom

3-5. Gooru

Conceptual prototype for customizable educational system, designed in 1999 for the year 2015, goo, flexible polymer LCD screen, recycled natural fibers, recyclable

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